Thursday, 3 November 2022

Chris Isaak - Everybody Knows It's Christmas


52 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Everybody Knows It's Christmas here (Rough Trade)
Stream Everybody Knows It's Christmas here (Spotify)

It's been nearly 20 years since Chris Isaak's Christmas album - I hoped then that it would be his inaugural holiday set and nearly two decades and a little patience has rewarded my desire for me. Mr Isaak returns to musical festivities with Everybody Knows It's Christmas where he delivers eight new Yuletide songs along some classics from years gone by. It feels like a cohesive soundtrack to a delightful animated feature we've yet to witness (largely due to that rather charming cover art) but, if that much needed movie never happens, it works splendidly as a stand alone project - full of your future favourite festive oldies. I'm appreciative that he is getting into the holiday spirit early - released nearly 10 weeks before Christmas so fans can enjoy these songs over and over before mothballing for next year's holiday playlists...

The classics:
The album kicks off with an icy cool version of Winter Wonderland, showcasing some finger-clicking jazzy influences. Delectable bass shimmies next to a shuffling percussion, as vivid as perambulating through the snow. Chris' vocal is deliciously mellifluous, like honey melting into hot chocolate. Jingle Bell Rock is presented in timeless style, all 50s rockabilly taking you back to the days of suave suits and slick hair. Chris sounds in his element - and he is equally as playful on a zippy, rollicking version of Run Rudolph Run. Crunchy guitar gives the song its needed pep while the electric middle 8 adds in some attitude. He continues Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, the cadence of his vocal irrepressibly gleeful as you kick up your heels with gay abandon. The album closes with a crooner version of O Holy Night, complete with reverent instrumental and layered vocals. It is a mesmerising take - and one that lingers long after the music has faded. 

Your future favourite oldies:
Chris' first new song sees him in melancholy mood - he's got the Holiday Blues and no-one gets through Everybody Knows It's Christmas without singing the blues. His voice brings out the longing of the lyrics, a little island lilt giving the juxtaposition of a sunny backdrop. At least he can still say I Believe In Santa Claus - shoulder shimmying gentle percussion swathes the singing. And of course Chris is a natural raconteur, wrapping himself in the story he shares. It is songs like this that helps make sure Everybody Knows It's Christmas - a list of all the familiar things we all look forward to as each December rolls around. The ho-ho-hos and catchy hook make this a convivial sing-along the whole family can enjoy. Christmas Comes But Once A Year is another song of heartache - a marriage gone sour where Chris is the lovelorn (ex?) husband wishing that Santa would bring him a little reconciliation. Its a musical invite that would be difficult to refuse...

Help Me Baby Jesus is a tongue in cheek tale about the theft of the titular representation from a nativity scene.  Country twang, witty lyrics and a sweet resolution to the story all help this sparkle as bright as the star on the top of the tree. The music is entirely infectious (as is the chanted chorus); Dogs Love Christmas Too feels like it is lifted from the soundtrack of an enchanting festive MGM movie from the 50s. Its a scamp of a song with a Doris Day style female vocal added to the mix. Utterly bonkers, totally brilliant. More solace to be found in Wrapping Presents For Myself, a song of woe where Chris is feeling particularly sorry for himself. Still, he refuses to be consumed by bitterness and still has positivity in his heart for those that broke it. Gorgeous piano on this track that tinkles like intricate snowflakes. Almost Christmas captures the excitement of the Christmas Countdown in typically wry fashion - a fabulous finale to his sterling set of original seasonal songs. 

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